Nadine Dorries has a fortnight to get herself back in the Tory fold

Nadine Dorries has a fortnight to “prove herself” to her constituents or she faces being permanently expelled from the Conservative Party.

She came under fire for appearing on I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here and was today told she must “rebuild bridges” with local voters if her suspension from the party is to be lifted.

The Mid-Bedfordshire MP was summoned to a meeting with Chief Whip Sir George Young this morning to explain her reasons for flying to the Australian jungle to appear on reality television.

Ms Dorries had the Tory whip suspended after claims she had not told Conservative bosses she was leaving Parliament to appear on the programme.

After the meeting in Sir George’s office Ms Dorries said: “We had a very good-natured, a very happy meeting.” A spokesman for Sir George said: “The whip has not been restored and nor will it be until she proves that she can rebuild bridges.” Ms Dorries will not be able to stand as a Tory candidate unless she regains the whip. Budge Wells, deputy chairman of the Mid-Bedfordshire Conservative Association, said she would be invited to address an executive meeting next week. He said they had had a lot of emails about her trip to Australia.